Equine thoracoscopy: normal anatomy and surgical technique

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Surgical Endoscopy
• Equine Anatomy

Background:

• Thoracoscopy offers a minimally invasive approach for examining the thoracic cavity.
• Understanding optimal intercostal space access is crucial for successful equine thoracoscopic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and safety of rigid thoracoscopy in healthy horses.
• To identify optimal intercostal spaces for thoracic cavity visualization.
• To document visualized thoracic structures and potential complications.

Main Methods:

• Six horses (3-10 years) underwent bilateral thoracoscopy with a rigid telescope.
• Procedures involved sedation, local anesthesia, and brief pneumothorax.
• Telescope insertion via randomly selected 8th, 10th, or 12th intercostal spaces.
• Exploration followed a systematic dorsal-caudal to cranial approach.

Main Results:

• Thoracoscopy allowed visualization of key structures including lungs, aorta, esophagus, diaphragm, azygos vein, thoracic duct, and pulmonary veins.
• Horses generally tolerated the procedure well.
• Discomfort was noted with lung collapse, pneumothorax, and particularly with 8th intercostal space access due to rib rigidity and musculature.

Conclusions:

• Rigid thoracoscopy is a viable diagnostic tool in horses.
• The 10th and 12th intercostal spaces appear more advantageous for telescope manipulation than the 8th.
• Further refinement of intercostal access may improve procedural efficiency.